BILL NUMBER: S9670
SPONSOR: BYNOE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to authorizing
BOCES to establish a workers' compensation reserve fund
 
PURPOSE:
To provide BOCES with the explicit authority to establish such a reserve
fund to strengthen their budgetary predictability in cases of workers'
compensation claims.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of this legislation amends Section 6-j of the General Munic-
ipal Law to add Boards of Cooperative Educational Services to the list
of entities authorized to establish a workers' compensation reserve
fund.
Section two sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
BOCES locations across New York State operate specialized programs serv-
ing students with a variety of intense needs and provide career and
technical education in hands-on instructional environments. These
programs involve physical support, specialized equipment, and complex
delivery of services. As a result, BOCES worker's compensation exposure
can be higher than that of a normal classroom, claims may extend across
multiple fiscal years, and these costs can create unplanned budget pres-
sure. Without explicit authority, BOCES must absorb the costs within its
current operating budget.
By authorizing a Workers' Compensation Reserve Fund with this bill,
BOCES will have the flexibility to plan their budgets more strategically
while stabilizing costs over time and strengthening their fiscal
predictability.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.